11 Terrifying Horror Movies You Can Stream on Netflix Right Now

One of the most celebrated horror films of 2016, a father and daughter are desperate to escape the zombie apocalypse. They decide to take a bullet train to the southern town of Busan, Korea, supposedly still zombie-free. Their journey, surrounded by other terrified passengers is equal parts classic gore-fest and social thriller, as the group fights to stay alive and to stay sane during the trip—and who knows what they’ll find when they finally reach their destination.

This stylish thriller was heralded as one of the finest horror movies of the last decade when it premiered in 2014, and it’s now available on Netflix if you still somehow haven’t had time to watch it. After a sexual encounter with her lover, Jay discovers she’s become the victim of some kind of entity that’s out to kill her, unless she can pass it to someone else. The movie received near-unanimous praise from critics and horror fans alike, and there are rumors of a possible sequel in the works.

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Shideh and her daughter, Dorsa, are living in Iran in the 1980s during the War of the Cities, under attack from Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Her husband, who must travel with the military as a doctor, begs his wife to leave the city, but she refuses. In addition to the shelling, Shideh and Dorsa find themselves victims of some kind of evil force in their home. Critics praised the political voice of this unusual horror film, with its decidedly feminist and progressive twists on the genre. 

The only thing scarier than a movie about the Devil is a documentary about the Devil. This chilling doc explores the real-life case of Father Malachi Martin, a controversial Irish priest known for performing exorcisms. Father Martin saw more than his fair share of demonic activity over decades’ worth of exorcisms. In 1999, he claimed that an unseen force pushed him down the stairs, leading to head trauma and eventually his death at the age of 78. With rare archival footage, interviews, and the words of Father Martin himself, Hostage to the Devil is a very real investigation into the dark world of exorcism.

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If you’re in the mood for a fun throwback to the 1980s, Deathgasm is the New Zealand horror comedy for you. Four boys in a rock band accidentally summon a great evil after performing a gloomy tune from found medieval sheet music. Yes, you read that right, sheet music. The sex, rock, and carnage escalate from there. Silly fun, with over-the-top gore and a heavy metal soundtrack to match, Deathgasm is a charming addition to the genre.

Wyatt starts receiving strange calls on his cell telling him that everyone is evil and out to get him. Though he’s inclined to take the threats seriously, he also wonders if maybe he’s just losing it. They Look Like People is a terrifying exercise in psychological horror, blurring the line between monsters and mental illness. Wyatt must decide how to protect his best friend from this evil ... or, from himself.

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This small, independent Canadian horror movie received a very small release here in the United States—as in, around two theaters. Ever since, it’s gained a dedicated fanbase that sings its praises. Now, finally, Pontypool is available to stream on Netflix. Radio DJ Grant Mazzy at first assumes the reports of mass chaos in the small town of Pontypool, Ontario, must be some kind of a joke. As time goes on, however, he and his staff realize there’s some kind of virus spreading, causing erratic and violent behavior. Can Mazzy and his crew figure out how the virus spreads before it’s too late?

When their father mysteriously disappears, Gordon and John embark on the daunting task of cleaning out the old man's enormous video store. In the back storeroom, they find a VHS board-game called Beyond the Gates, which reveals a strange parallel universe. Like a glorious mix of Phantasm and Jumanji, this horror movie pays homage to the golden age of 80s horror, complete with a cameo from Barbara Crampton, heroine of the 1985 classic Re-Animator.

Newlyweds Bea (Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie) and Paul (Harry Treadaway) travel to a rustic cabin in the woods for their honeymoon. Soon after arriving, however, Bea goes missing. When Paul discovers her naked (but alive) in the woods, things really go downhill—like, down into the pits of hell. The feature film debut of director Leigh Janiak, Honeymoon will have you thinking twice about vacationing in the woods. Seriously, couldn’t they have just gone to Hawaii?

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Sarah is yet another young actress trying to make it in Hollywood. The outlook is bleak, until she auditions to star in a movie being produced by a mysterious—see: Satantic—company. They’re happy to offer Sarah the role … in exchange for her soul.

After premiering at SXSW, Netflix jumped on this heart-pounding horror flick from director Mike Flanagan, which was inspired from his wanting to make a movie without dialogue. The main character, Maddie, is a young deaf woman who lives in isolation. A friend comes to visit, only to be murdered by a masked man. Maddie cannot hear her screams for help. The man realizes that Maddie is deaf and makes her his next victim. Like the classic film Wait Until Dark, where the heroine is blind, Maddie’s deafness ups the ante on the typical slasher film structure.

Featured still from "They Look Like People" via Gravitas Ventures